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Communication ministers from the Southern Development Community (SADC) countries vowed on Thursday to turn the region into an information and knowledge-based economy. This emerged from a ICT (information and communication technology) meeting taking place in Durban, a coastal city in southeastern South Africa. Communication ministers from 15 SADC countries have been meeting in Durban since Monday to discuss the region's ICT infrastructure. The meeting, also attended by policy regulators, implementing agencies and ICT industry players, was designed to help create a more integrated region and help move its communication systems forward. "An accessible, affordable and reliable telecommunications is essential for us to benefit from the Fourth Industrial Revolution which has the potential to leapfrog SADC region economically and socially as...

Deprivation and marginalization, underpinned by weak governance, are primary forces driving young Africans into violent extremism, according to a comprehensive new study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the first study of its kind. Based on interviews with 495 voluntary recruits to extremist organizations such as Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram, the new study also found that it is often perceived state violence or abuse of power that provides the final tipping point for the decision to join an extremist group. “Journey to Extremism in Africa: Drivers, Incentives and the Tipping Point for Recruitment” presents the results of a two-year UNDP Africa study on recruitment in the most prominent extremist groups in Africa. The study reveals a picture of a...

African Rainbow Minerals Ltd., the miner chaired by South Africa’s richest black businessman, will pay a record dividend this year as rising iron-ore and manganese prices boosted earnings at its ferrous unit. ARM will pay investors 6.50 rand a share, almost triple that of the previous year, and its 11th consecutive dividend, the Johannesburg-based company said in a statement Thursday. The company benefited from a 45 percent increase in prices received for exported iron ore and 93 percent more for its manganese. While ARM is “confident in the long-term outlook for commodities,” the company said prices will “remain volatile” this year. The rand, in which ARM pays most of its costs, has strengthened against the dollar this year, reducing earnings...

Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday said he will not succumb to pressure from civil society to revoke the order that gave police extra powers to curb lawlessness in the country. On July 5, the Zambian leader declared a Threatened State of Public Emergency which gave police extra powers to control the tension escalated in the country following the arrest of leading opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema who was charged with treason. The declaration was approved by the parliament to run for three months. However, 28 civil society organizations resolved to petition the parliament to revoke the decree on Friday

Kenya’s long standing milk export standoff with Zambia has taken a positive turn with the regional trading bloc seeking intervention of the UN food agency. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) said it would engage the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Zambian government to resolve the 13-year-old stalemate. Zambia has for over a decade rejected Kenya’s milk on quality grounds, citing high level of bacteria which exceeds its national total bacteria count (TBC) of 200,000 per mililitre. Kenya follows the global benchmark of one million TBC per millilitre. Comesa director for trade customs and monetary affairs Francis Mangeni was quoted saying in local Zambian media that experts from FAO, the ministries of Commerce, Trade and...

Zambia soccer team on Tuesday revived their hope to qualify to the World Cup 2018, as they secured second win over Algeria 1-0, in Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine province, 420km east of Algiers, in the Group B qualifiers. Patso Daka scored the sole goal of this game as Zambia reinforces its second place in Group B with 7 points, only 3 points away from top spot Nigeria (10 pts). On Monday, Nigeria held Cameroon 1-1. Algeria and Cameroon are virtually out of the race, as they collected 1 points, and 3 points, respectively. For now, Zambia and Nigeria will fight hard to secure the sole ticket of the group to Russia 2018, although experts believe the Eagles are more likely...

The construction of a cutting edge training simulation centre at the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) headquarters is yet another confirmation of Government’s commitment to keeping Zambia, and defence forces in particular, abreast with modern infrastructure and technology. It is evidence that the PF government is walking the “Smart Zambia” talk. President Lungu yesterday opened an ultra-modern three-storey simulation centre aimed at boosting pilots’ craft and confidence through cost-effective, safe and realistic training methods on highly computerised and technologically advanced L-15 fighter ground attack aircraft. It is gratifying that the simulator centre is well-equipped with highly advanced systems with capability to monitor aircraft from the ground, making it possible for ground crew to easily detect faults and rectify them. The simulation...

A surge in agriculture has helped lift Africa’s biggest economies out of their slumps, but the recovery may be weak. Gross domestic product in Nigeria, the continent’s largest crude producer, advanced for the first time in six quarters in the three months ended June from a year earlier, growing 0.55 percent, the statistics agency said. In South Africa, GDP expanded 2.5 percent from the previous quarter, ending the second recession in almost a decade. Both economies had agriculture largely to thank: in South Africa, a bumper corn harvest following the worst drought in more than a century saw the sector surge 34 percent from the prior quarter, while in Nigeria, where farming vies with industries as the second-biggest contributor to...

The worst may be over for Africa’s two largest economies as they likely emerged from a slump in the second quarter. Official data on Tuesday will probably show South Africa’s economy expanded in the three months through June, ending its second recession in less than a decade. Nigeria’s gross domestic product probably grew from a year earlier, and came out of its worst slump in a quarter of a century. South Africa and Nigeria together account for almost half of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP and their recoveries may boost trade and production across the region. The reasons differ: while Nigeria, the continent’s biggest oil producer, is benefiting from a rebound in crude output, stronger retail sales may help drive growth in...

Zambia's main opposition leader on Thursday condemned his four-month imprisonment for alleged treason as an abuse of the criminal justice system by his political opponents. Hakainde Hichilema was released from custody two weeks ago after being detained for allegedly failing to give way to President Edgar Lungu's motorcade. "It is not because the police have done an investigation, it is because a member of the ruling party has instigated the police to arrest this citizen," Hichilema said. "You cannot have a criminal justice system that operates like that." The charges were widely seen as part of a crackdown on dissent by Lungu's Patriotic Front government. Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), was speaking at a joint...

One of the most controversial personalities in Zambian electioneering Priscilla Isaacs has parted ways with the Electoral Commission of Zambia following the expiry of her contract. Isaacs who has served as ECZ Director has overseen two highly emotionally charged elections that have delivered President Edgar Lungu as the winner wound up her rein at the ECZ today. Isaacs' name regularly propped up in post-election disputes but the calm natured lady maintained her innocence. By Bwembya Mutale

Cooperation between China and Africa has seen remarkable progress in renewable energy, showing the determination of developing countries to harness the huge potential of clean energy and combat climate change. China-Africa Renewable Energy Cooperation and Innovation Alliance, a coalition of financing institutions, smart grid providers and core manufacturers, on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation with Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI). "Africa has the highest potential for renewable energy, but the least access to it," said Seyni Nafo, chairman of AREI endorsed by the African Union Assembly. The MOU will enable the two parties to cooperate in renewable energy generation in Africa, with Chinese smart grid providers and core renewable energy manufacturers providing technological and financial support...

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chief Electoral Officer Priscilla Isaac’s contract has ended. ECZ Public Relations Officer Raphael Phiri says Ms Isaac’s contract will come to an end tomorrow, Thursday 31st August, 2017, but that her official last working day was today Wednesday, 30th August, 2017. Mr Phiri says Ms Isaac opted not to renew her contract after serving the Commission for 17 years. Ms Isaac joined the Commission as a public relations officer before being elevated to Deputy Director Elections and Voter Education. Director of Electoral Operations, Chomba Chella has since been appointed to act as Chief Electoral Officer.

Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) and the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) have reached an agreement that will lead to the resumption of power supply to the mine today. This is in a statement issued by President Lungu’s Press Aide Amos Chanda, below is the statement. According to the statement, MCM and CEC have reached an agreement that will lead to the resumption of power supply to the mine today. The agreement which has been facilitated by Government is to be amicably concluded between MCM and CEC over an agreed period of six (6) weeks. During the same period, Mopani and Government will also conclude other outstanding matters on Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds and transfer pricing disputes. The statement further said...

Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema says he has forgiven all those that plotted his brutal arrest and incarceration for over four months. Addressing thousands of worshippers during a thanksgiving prayer service held at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross to thank God for his release, Mr Hichilema said he will not seek revenge against his political enemies who took him to jail along with five of his supporters. Mr Hichilema said he did not harbour hatred against the authorities after he was brutally arrested in April. “Despite the injustices that we went through, we harbour no hatred and we do hereby forgive… all,” he said. “And there are many who were involved in our brutal arrest and subsequent detention,” Mr...

A Charcoal trader has been picked up by police in Ndola in connection with the fire that ravaged Ndola’s Kapalala Market Wednesday morning. Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga told Journalists in Ndola that the Charcoal trader has been arrested for criminal negligence over the gutting of Kapalala market. Mrs. Katanga said police have withheld the suspect’s name to protect him from possible lynching from affected shop owners. She said police investigations have concluded that the fire started after a brazier was left unattended to by the trader after he went to offload charcoal that was being brought to the Market. “The suspect has been arrested and charged with criminal negligence contrary to section 372 chapter 87 of the laws of...

Government says it has created a Railway Development Agency ( RDA) to facilitate the separation of railway infrastructure and maintenance from railway operations. Minister of Transport and Communications Brian Mushimba says this is aimed at allowing Zambia Railways Limited ( ZRL ) to focus on running its business operations competitively and in a sustainable manner being bogged down into costly maintenance of the permanent way. Mr. Mushimba says this part of government’s reforms of the railway transport including the introduction of the quota system for bulk cargo which he said will compel bulk transporter of various categories of cargo to transport a minimum of 30 percent of cargo by railway. He added that government has also under the reforms come...

One Thousand & One Voices LLC, a private-equity fund started by the great-grandson of the founder of Coors Brewing Co., said it bought a producer of sushi-quality trout that is the largest such facility in Africa. SanLei’s operations are on the Katse Dam in Lesotho, an enclave surrounded by South Africa, 1K1V, as the fund is known, said in an emailed statement Tuesday. The company didn’t disclose the value of the transaction. SanLei has secured a marketing and distribution agreement with CGC Japan Co., which has more than 4,000 stores and collective revenue of more than $40.5 billion, making it Japan’s largest joint-procurement supermarket chain, 1K1V said. The fund has been hunting for private-equity investments that tap Africa’s growing consumer...

Zambia's main opposition leader on Tuesday vowed to forgive his political opponents and not seek revenge following four months in jail for allegedly failing to give way to the presidential motorcade. Hakainde Hichilema addressed a prayer meeting two weeks after his release from prison telling thousands of worshippers he did not harbour hatred against the authorities after he was brutally arrested in April. "Despite the injustices that we went through, we harbour no hatred and we do hereby forgive... all," he said. "And there are many who were involved in our brutal arrest and subsequent detention," the leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND) told jubilant crowds at the capital city's Anglican cathedral. "We are Christians and it...

Southern Province Permanent Secretary Sibanze Simuchoba has urged more South African investors to come and invest in Zambia to stimulate economic activities and create jobs locally. Mr Simuchoba said Zambia had more investment opportunities which South African investors could exploit. He was speaking in Livingstone at Protea Hotel when he interacted with a delegation of business executives. The delegation was hosted by Livingstone Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Namakau Sianga. “Compared to South Africa, Zambia probably has more investment opportunities which you can exploit,” Mr Simuchoba said. “We have investment opportunities in agriculture, tourism, mining, construction, energy, railway and other sectors where you can invest.”